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James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld head to Nottingham for night nine of the McCoy’s Premier League on Thursday, with the intention of winning their respective matches and keeping themselves planted firmly in the play-off places.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

Wade has turned his form around dramatically in recent weeks to move to second in the table. ‘The Machine’ is hoping to complete a Premier League double over Adrian Lewis at the Capital FM Arena.

“Adrian is a world class player and I’m looking forward to it,” said the 2009 champion. “He’s very flamboyant and very interesting to watch and it’s good for the sport that we’re chasing each other.

“He’s a world class player who’s won two World Championship titles. I’m chasing him on that front and I respect him for that.”

Whitlock is hoping to bounce back from the whitewash he suffered at the hands of Wade last week, when he takes on reigning champion Gary Anderson.

“It was horrible,” said ‘The Wizard’. “Nothing went right for me and I don’t ever want that to happen to me again. I’ve been practising hard and I want to put it right when I play Gary.”

Whitlock and Wade are both tied on eight points, as is van Barneveld, who is up against Kevin Painter.

It’s a battle of the Stokies in the nights other match, as runaway league leader Phil Taylor faces 2012 World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton.

By Chris Murphy

League Table